Geraldine Eva Cady Gabriel passed away peacefully on August 15, 2024, at age 92.    She was surrounded by family in her final days at her daughter Jenifer's and son-in-law Bob's home where she had been living for the past four years.  Jeri, as she was known, was born January 1, 1932, to Mildred Hill Cady and Kenneth George Cady in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She was an extraordinary woman defined by family, faith and community.

Jeri was raised in Winona, Minnesota, and graduated from Winona High School in 1950.  She moved to the Twin Cities and was working as a secretary at the University of Minnesota when she met an architecture student, H. James Gabriel, on a blind date.  They married on October 15, 1955, and were together until Jim passed away in 2009.  After Jim returned from serving in Korea, they lived at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, and then settled in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  In 1963, they moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where they made their home and a great life.  They also enjoyed spending time at their home in Green Valley, Arizona, and their camper at Westward Ho Campground near Greenbush, Wisconsin.

Jeri is survived by her beloved children and their spouses, Paul (Silke Sonntag) Gabriel, Ann (Rauel) LaBreche, Eric (Tracy) Gabriel, Jenifer (Robert) Novak and Daniel (Sarah) Gabriel; by her treasured grandchildren, Parker (Ashley), Jackson (Kelsey) and Paul Gabriel, Elisabeth and Josiah LaBreche, Layton, Elyse and Keara Gabriel, Jacob Novak, Nicole (Michael) Ozanich and Joshua (Carmen) Novak, and Benson (Sammy) Strassburger; and by her dear great grandchildren, Leo, Alice, Gage and Blaire.  She is further survived by Azad Ali Kahn, whom she adopted as a young man, and his family, by her siblings-in-law Mary Gabriel and Walter Mayer, and by many other family and friends.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Georgia Zenk and brother-in-law Raymond Zenk, her infant baby sister, Gene Ann, half-brother, Clarence Cady, mother and father-in-law, Esther and Anton Gabriel, siblings-in-law, Richard Gabriel, Virginia Mayer and John and Chris Gabriel, and her close companion, Myron Daily.

Jeri was an independent force of nature.  She was both a child of the Great Depression and WWII and a thoroughly modern woman.  For a year before moving from La Crosse, Jim worked each week in Sheboygan while she stayed in La Crosse with three kids – ages 4, 2 and an infant – and no car.   As a busy wife and mom, she earned a bachelor's degree at UW Milwaukee and a masters degree at Cardinal Stritch University. Jeri worked in education, real estate and sales and was a well-known substitute teacher in Sheboygan schools.  She proudly homeschooled Daniel from 3rd grade through high school graduation.

Jeri was involved in many community endeavors.  She and Jim were honored for their work with Easter Seals.  She helped rally other young moms to launch both the La Crosse and Sheboygan chapters of La Leche League to promote breastfeeding in the years when large companies and even some doctors were encouraging formula-raised babies.  She and Jim opened their home to international students and to many others who needed a place to stay or simply a little solace and support.  She was a welcoming advisor and friend among the first Hmong families building new lives in Sheboygan.  No person was turned away from her door and nobody was a stranger within a minute or two of their meeting.

She was a woman of great faith who blessed many with her spiritual gifts.  Her legacy will forever live on.  Her love for Jesus Christ her Savior and her joy and wisdom defined her.  She studied and shared God's word, traveled with missionaries, led Bible studies, prayed continually, loved her neighbors and even blessed her pastors as they blessed her.  A job well done, "Dear Child of God and Faithful Servant!"

Jeri could go and fit in seemingly anywhere and everywhere, not by being pushy, but through natural grace, curiosity and kindness.  She treated everyone with dignity.  She had a knack for disarming the difficult and officious with a blanket of sweetness.  She was always fashionably dressed and coifed, even with a gaggle of ice cream-smudged children in tow.

She and Jim attended the 1967 "Ice Bowl" game at Lambeau Field.  For decades after, she was known to sequester in the powder room to pray when a miracle was needed for the Packers win.  She was the driver of a pre-air conditioning station wagon piled with kids, was pulled over twice by the same police officer on one hot day and somehow escaped without a ticket.  She was a lover of and hero for all creatures.  Lucky were her pets and even the spiders were ushered outside to safety.  When a young son announced he was sleeping out in a backyard tent with the family dog on a below-zero night, she barely batted an eye at her son but was adamant the poor dog would not join him.

She nurtured her kids to be, like her, curious and adventurous learners and leaders.  She was a dedicated genealogist, amateur historian and the archivist of seemingly everything her family ever made or did.  She was a life-long traveler and student of life.  She was, most of all, a one-of-a-kind, humane and good soul who will be missed dearly and always.

Geraldine's family thanks the amazing caregivers, hospice team and all those who touched her life in recent years.  She was buried near her parents at Marcellon Cemetery, Pardeeville, Wisconsin, following a family service.  A celebration of her life will be held this fall.  Memorials in her name may be made to a no-kill animal shelter or pet rescue, the Salvation Army or another cause of the giver's choice.

Online condolences may be made at hooversonfuneralhomes.com